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Throwing good money after bad: Zombie lending and the supply chain contagion of firm exit

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  • Dai, Yun
  • Li, Xuchao
  • Liu, Dinghua
  • Lu, Jiankun

Abstract

This paper studies whether the bailout of downstream firms helps stop the supply chain propagation of business failure. By analyzing persistent zombie lending in China, we show that such a bailout policy does not work. Zombie lending to downstream firms does not reduce the exit likelihood of upstream firms. Worse, it distorts efficiency-based firm exit in upstream industries. The exit distortion effect works through the trade credit chain and is more profound in industries with stricter financial constraints and tighter supply chain connections. Our findings reveal the importance of credit allocation efficiency for the Schumpeterian process of creative destruction that is essential for economic growth.

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  • Dai, Yun & Li, Xuchao & Liu, Dinghua & Lu, Jiankun, 2021. "Throwing good money after bad: Zombie lending and the supply chain contagion of firm exit," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 379-402.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:189:y:2021:i:c:p:379-402
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2021.06.042
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    Cited by:

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    2. Xiaohan Guo & Jianliang Ye & Wunhong Su & Deming Luo & Xiangrong Jin, 2022. "Do zombie firms crowd out healthy firms and slow their growth? Evidence from China," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 40(6), November.
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    4. Feng, Ling & Lang, Henan & Pei, Tingting, 2022. "Zombie firms and corporate savings: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 551-564.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Supply chain; Exit contagion; Zombie lending; Creative destruction; Trade credit;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G33 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Bankruptcy; Liquidation
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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